I chose to pick webquests from the elementary section. I read through all five of my choices and thought they were all fairly good. The one I picked to be the best was Unraveling the Underground Railroad. I really enjoyed the set up with the tabs on the side. A few of them had those but that is something I really liked about. The colors and pictures make the site interesting and kids will be able to capture the feelings and understand what they are learning. I think this makes for a good webquest because the teacher presents the students with a good process and gives them the information they need to succeed at the project they are working on. I think the requirements make it interesting and role play is always a good way to teach subjects.
The webquest that I wasn't too impressed with was Ancient Egypt. I thought it was poorly put together and I think appearance has a lot to do with how well the students are going to engage themselves in the project. Also, another thing i noticed that I did not like was how the teacher wrote "they do not need to be complete sentences at this point" then later into it wanted complete sentences. I think it would be smart to just start out with complete sentences. I think mainly the appearance is what through me off with this webquest. I think appearance is important and younger children will be more interested in something with more color and images.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Software Evaluation
I think that all of software criteria are useful and important. It takes a lot of work to build a computer game or educational program or either a website. If I had to pick the five I thought were the most important they would be standards, active learning, hardware compatibility, installation, and documentation.
Standards- standards are always important for everything. The program needs to have the correct information and be able to meet all standards that will have the best result and help children learn. The government also has a set of standards that need to be met.
Active learning- I think active learning is definitely important because it keeps the students engaged in the learning activity. The level of active learning is hugely important to keep the students full attention on the game or whatever it tends to be.
Hardware compatibility- This is also hugely important because there are a lot of different computers out there these days and the computer software needs to be able to work on all machines without problem.
Installation- Not everyone is computer literate. My mom can't do anything on the computer without help and that changes generation to generation. But, a lot of people are starting to use computers for a lot of different reasons. There are games for the computers that are awesome for small children and some of their parents have a lot of trouble being able to use those games. The installation process is important because it needs to be easy to install programs and games for parents and other people who don't know how to use computers.
Documentation- The way the program is set up is important. It needs to be easy to read, logical, and clear. Also be able to catch the attention of people is important.
The three academic softwares that I chose were Imaging softwares, Encyclopedias, atlases, grammar tools, dictionaries, and Oregon Trail, Jump Start programs, etc.
I chose imaging softwares it would be great use in a classroom. I would love this to scan pages or pictures from books onto my computer so i can share them with my class.
I chose to use computer programs such as encyclopedias, atlases, grammar tools, dictionaries, etc because it can make things easier on the teacher and the students. A lot of things are done online and to have these tools available on the computer is very helpful.
Lastly, I chose to use computer games such as the Oregon Trail, Jump Start Programs, PBS, and Disney Junior because they are very educational for the younger students and can teach a lot.
Standards- standards are always important for everything. The program needs to have the correct information and be able to meet all standards that will have the best result and help children learn. The government also has a set of standards that need to be met.
Active learning- I think active learning is definitely important because it keeps the students engaged in the learning activity. The level of active learning is hugely important to keep the students full attention on the game or whatever it tends to be.
Hardware compatibility- This is also hugely important because there are a lot of different computers out there these days and the computer software needs to be able to work on all machines without problem.
Installation- Not everyone is computer literate. My mom can't do anything on the computer without help and that changes generation to generation. But, a lot of people are starting to use computers for a lot of different reasons. There are games for the computers that are awesome for small children and some of their parents have a lot of trouble being able to use those games. The installation process is important because it needs to be easy to install programs and games for parents and other people who don't know how to use computers.
Documentation- The way the program is set up is important. It needs to be easy to read, logical, and clear. Also be able to catch the attention of people is important.
The three academic softwares that I chose were Imaging softwares, Encyclopedias, atlases, grammar tools, dictionaries, and Oregon Trail, Jump Start programs, etc.
I chose imaging softwares it would be great use in a classroom. I would love this to scan pages or pictures from books onto my computer so i can share them with my class.
I chose to use computer programs such as encyclopedias, atlases, grammar tools, dictionaries, etc because it can make things easier on the teacher and the students. A lot of things are done online and to have these tools available on the computer is very helpful.
Lastly, I chose to use computer games such as the Oregon Trail, Jump Start Programs, PBS, and Disney Junior because they are very educational for the younger students and can teach a lot.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Digital Technologies in the Classroom
Digital Cameras- I would definitely pick to use digital cameras in my classroom. I love to take pictures and with a digital camera you can upload pictures to a computer for a lot of different subjects. Cameras also can take videos. This will be very helpful if you want to record a class play or something outside of school to show your class. Also, cameras can be used for newsletter photos, web sites, documenting a science experiment, and simply for taking pictures of children working.
Electronic Whiteboards- I always find these very helpful in classrooms that I have been in and also when I was in high school. I would love to have this in my classroom! It is a great way to do group work and teach a lesson to the whole class. An electronic whiteboard also hooks up to a computer, therefore you can pull up the internet and it saves everything you write on the board.
Speakers and Headphones- Speakers and headphones would be a must. We just discussed students with disabilities being able to listen to books. Headphones make it a lot easier to have that option available. Also, speakers are needed if you want to show videos or if students are working together on a computer and need to hear.
Those are the only three that I thought were necessary to have. A camera, a whiteboard, and speakers and headphones are three things I think will be very helpful to a classroom. Classrooms don't need to be all technology. There has to be time for students to get creative and express themselves without the use of technology.
Electronic Whiteboards- I always find these very helpful in classrooms that I have been in and also when I was in high school. I would love to have this in my classroom! It is a great way to do group work and teach a lesson to the whole class. An electronic whiteboard also hooks up to a computer, therefore you can pull up the internet and it saves everything you write on the board.
Speakers and Headphones- Speakers and headphones would be a must. We just discussed students with disabilities being able to listen to books. Headphones make it a lot easier to have that option available. Also, speakers are needed if you want to show videos or if students are working together on a computer and need to hear.
Those are the only three that I thought were necessary to have. A camera, a whiteboard, and speakers and headphones are three things I think will be very helpful to a classroom. Classrooms don't need to be all technology. There has to be time for students to get creative and express themselves without the use of technology.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Theoretical Foundations
Each student is going to be different. Being a teacher is going to be a very difficult task and it only takes someone special to be able to grasp it and succeed at it. Every student I have is going to learn different. Some students learn by doing hands on activities and others learn by watching. I want my students to be able to do both. There is always going to be a few kids that don't understand the material and it is going to be my job to find a way that helps them learn the material. The best way for me to assess the learning characteristics of my students is through communication. I will need to figure out a way to understand how my students learn so i can incorporate that into my lesson plans so it will benefit all of my students. The book says that we teach in the way we like to learn, think, or do. I think that is so true! I want my students to never get bored in my classroom! I hated going to school knowing that it was going to be the worst day at school ever. I know that it is almost impossible to not stand and lecture for at least part of the day, but I want my kids to be excited to come to my class! Educational technology will fit into a daily basis I'm sure. We will use power points, overheads, look at different website, play on the computers, etc. All kids love computers and it is going to be a part of the day. When i did some hours at Galileo Charter School here in Richmond, there was a part of the day where they all got on the computers and used certain programs to teach math, reading, writing, etc. My multiple intelligence strengths and weaknesses vary.I am very bodily kinesthetic and like to move around and be very hands on. Also, I am very interpersonal....i love people! I am such a people person (sometimes its annoying) I get along well with others and love to work together. Overall I am a bit of everything. My least one is musical. I am not music smart and do not enjoy making music or playing instruments. Don't get me wrong, i love to listen to music in the car (country is my favorite) but i am not a band person.
I hope to be the best teacher I can be someday! :) I think learning how to be technologically smart will help a lot! Also knowing how I learn will benefit me and my students!
I hope to be the best teacher I can be someday! :) I think learning how to be technologically smart will help a lot! Also knowing how I learn will benefit me and my students!
Digital Generation
I definitely think I am part of the digital generation. I almost feel like everywhere I go and everything I do deals with technology. I know that sometimes it gets a little ridiculous but it's something that is apart of our everyday lives. My cell phone is basically my lifeline and if I don't have it I really feel lost. Its pathetic almost that i rely on my cell phone like that. I am constantly checking my facebook, either at home or my cell phone, and i use the computer for all of my school work. I hate that our world has become so technological but as the years go on I do think its going to get worse.
The portraits compare almost identically to me, my peers, and the students in K-12. They all use technology for everything and they want to pursue careers in some sort of field of technology. There isn't much you can do in this day of time that does not involve the use of a computer, cell phone, television, etc. The list goes on and on!
After watching the video my thoughts have not changed about how I am going to use technology in my classroom. I always knew that it was going to be incorporated in the classroom. I look forward actually to using it. There is so much you can do! I can teach so many more things by being able to show videos and pictures. I don't go a day at school right now without my teachers showing us some sort of video and all my teachers use powerpoints for their lectures.
Overall, I am apart of the digital generation and I don't think there are many people that are not. Almost everyone has a facebook or emails.
The portraits compare almost identically to me, my peers, and the students in K-12. They all use technology for everything and they want to pursue careers in some sort of field of technology. There isn't much you can do in this day of time that does not involve the use of a computer, cell phone, television, etc. The list goes on and on!
After watching the video my thoughts have not changed about how I am going to use technology in my classroom. I always knew that it was going to be incorporated in the classroom. I look forward actually to using it. There is so much you can do! I can teach so many more things by being able to show videos and pictures. I don't go a day at school right now without my teachers showing us some sort of video and all my teachers use powerpoints for their lectures.
Overall, I am apart of the digital generation and I don't think there are many people that are not. Almost everyone has a facebook or emails.
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